anwer.mooraj@tribune.com.pk
Three worthy souls of the pseudonym club, Np, NumbersNumbers and F, were deeply incensed. Np wanted to know why I described the attack on Karachi airport as Mossad-like and why I linked every assault on our installations as the work of RAW. Let me set his mind at ease. The phrase Mossad-like was intended to be a description — not an accusation or an indictment. It indicated a special type of assault which involved a number of qualities — intricate planning, split-second timing, fierce determination and the element of surprise. I believe the phrase got its name from the daring Israeli rescue mission in 1976 conducted by paratroopers on Uganda’s Entebbe airport to free 106 Israeli hijack hostages. The assault inspired the 1977 motion picture Operation Thunderbolt. At no point in the article did I suggest, or even hint, that Israel was mixed up in the assault or that RAW was involved. Or that one had fed the other. Np, through a perverted logic, did, quite innocently… by implication…suggest that there was a link between the two. .
NumbersNumbers travelled more or less on the same road and, in a sense, echoed Np’s sentiments. F brought a new twist to the accusation and wanted to know why I linked every attack on Pakistan to the Mossad or RAW when the TTP had owned up to the attack. “…terror groups have been created by the state with the full support of the masses. The fight is between two forces with the same end goals.” Something doesn’t gel. Which two forces is F talking about? If they believe in the same goals, why are they fighting each other? Where did he (or she) get the idea that militant groups…have the full support of the masses? And, what gives him the idea that the mere suggestion of Israel’s involvement is calculated to stir up the masses? The masses don’t get stirred up by anything. Not even the fierce, regular attacks by the militants.
I don’t remember ever attacking Israel except once or twice to condemn their treatment of the Palestinians. In fact, in my article “Quiet…he’s a Jew” I stated that I was appalled at any kind of discrimination on the basis of religion, politics or ethnicity and stood up for my Ashkenazi friend. However, I always enjoy comments, however, negative. Controversy makes an article more interesting. So keep writing F wherever you are located. If you happen to be in India, let me assure you both Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif are doing their best to bring the two countries closer together. They are both business-oriented and know that the future of the two neighbours lies in mutual co-operation. Who knows, I might yet be able to visit Chowpatty beach to enjoy an iced kulfi on banana leaves. There’s a Marathi saying, he who has tried it once always goes back for seconds.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2014.
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COMMENTS (15)
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@Anwer Mooraj: Dear Anwer, Thank you for explaining your younger years, and of course a major aspect of Marxian theory, which I studied so long ago. Being one of the oldest contributors to ET I have to admit there is a type of nostalgia about the old days when Bombay was still Bombay, Ceylon was Ceylon and Rudyard Kipling books crowded the library bookshelves. Those days are long gone now and I am reasonably certain that the younger generation probably find it boring. However, without being patronising the older economic philosophers, such as Adam Smith, John Stuart Mills, and Karl Marx still have much to offer the younger generation. In particular, although Das Kapital can be somewhat difficult to plough through, it has never been so relevant to society as we traverse the difficult economic and political minefields we face today, and in particular the vast disparities of wealth..
@Gp65: Sorry. Typo in my last post. Most of the other posters are NOT my colleagues though they are my compatriots.
@Sexton Blake: Nicely put, Sexton...as usual.
@Anwer Mooraj: Sir, i am not sure who your charmimg post describing your growing up years in Panchgani was directed to. In case iif it was to me, i would like to clarify that none of the other posters are my colleagues though certainly are my compatriots.
Since you clearly had friends from all faiths growing up, I think you are one of few who understands what many of us have experienced growing up. Our wariness of Pakistan is not rooted in Islamophobia by any means since we have many Muslim friends.
Anyway, do appreciate your interactive style and the respect you show your reqders by bothering to respond to us.
Have agreat week. Look forward to reading your next OpEd.
I would be jolly interested to know where you are located. The only correct definition of communism according to Marx is the final stage in the evolution of a society characterized by class conflicts.According to this definition the Soviet Union did not practice communism. In fact, they referred to themselves as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The only communal unit that I know of which is the closest to a communist society is the kibbutz...which used to exist in Israel.
A warm think you to you and your colleagues and also for your invitation. I might take it up.I studied at St.Peters High School in Panchgani which is located in the western ghats 64 miles from Poona. In the winter holidays I spent a few days in Bombay with some relatives before heading for my home Bhopal. In those days Bombay was the greatest city in the world. Mr friends Raja Ram Ninbalker, Mohammed Ali Sonawalla, Tolly Pavledis, Maninder Singh and I used to do three movies in a day at the Regal, Eros and Metro. And...we never missed the kulfi and mango ice cream, served on banana leaves and prepared in a bucket with real milk and crushed ice. When I visited Mumbai in 2006 I am happy to say the ice cream was still there. Only the crows of visitors had become bigger. . .
It is interesting to note that almost any institution in the world can be criticized except those belonging to Israel, and journalists everywhere go to water if the Jewish lobby go into attack mode. If Anwer Mooraj had stated that the Karachi incident was similar to a CIA or MI5 operation I doubt if anybody would have noticed. Having said that most intelligence agencies appear to get up to questionable mischief, and Mossad is no exception. Regardless of who was involved in the Karachi airport attack it was a well planned operation, and Pakistan would have been much better off without it..
Thank you Gp for your kind remarks, your warm invitation and your appreciation that there are still some journalists who care about what others think of them and who strive to be objective. . I thought I ought to point out that I was a boarder in St. Peter's High School in Panchgani, 64 miles from Poona. During the winter holidays I spent a few days in Bombay with some relatives on my way to my home in Bhopal. Bombay was the greatest city in the world.As a schoolboy, hungry for entertainment, my friends Raja Ram Nimbalker, Mohammed Ali Sonawalla, Rex Lynn,Hari Singh, Ezra Athakhji and I did three films in a day at the Regal, Metro and Eros. I remember being taken to Mahalaxmi race course by my uncle and seeing Madhubala, Waheeda Rahman and...Nargis...all three in one day. But the most unforgettable thing I remember about the Queens' Necklace was was the kulfi and the mango ice cream served on banana leaves. The ice cream was made in a bucket from pure milk...I have never had anything like it ever since. ...
Sir,
First of all appreciate the fact that you took the time to respond. Secondly, ghere has been a lot of deliberate misinformation spread by many anhors, OpEd writers etc. trying to divert attention from the actual root causes of the prlem and trying to blame India and Israel. I had pointed out the attempt to drag India in on the basis of medicines made in Ondia which were leally imported in Larachi. I assumed, incorrectly it appears that you were also taking hat stand.
Your clarification shows, this was not the case and I have no reason to doubt your explanation.
Again thank you for taking the time to respond. Appreciated.
Sir,
I am originally from Mumbai and regularly read your columns. Whether i agree with your opinions or not, i Have concluded ou are a thorough gentleman.
I would like to extend a warm welcome to you to my home city and all its culinary delights - not just Kulfi on chowpatty, but street food like Bhel and Pau Bhaji, Gujarati snacks like Dhokla, south Indian snacks like Idli and Dhosa, Parsi patra ni macchi and dhansaak, Bengali sweets like rosogulla and much more. If people like you visit Mumbai instead of people like Kasab, I am sure relations will improve.
I am impressed by your response to those who misread you and commend your grace in the rebuttal. May your tribe increase.
Dear Mr.Mooraj, You are a fine gentleman for having taken the trouble to respond to reader's comments. It reveals a sensitive persona and that you do care for your readers' opinions even though they are written under anonymous pseudonyms. Many of your professional colleagues in the media, both in India & Pakistan need to learn from you. Your platform Express Tribune is also a fine newspaper far ahead of most (if not all) English language newspapers in India.
All this is much ado about nothing. "Mossad-like" touched some overly sensitive nerves. Not everything from Pakistan writers is a conspiracy theory or intended to be anti-Indian or anti-Israeli but perceptions to such effects are the result of oversimplification and overly presumptuous attitudes.
"The phrase Mossad-like was intended to be a description — not an accusation or an indictment. It indicated a special type of assault which involved a number of qualities — intricate planning, split-second timing, fierce determination and the element of surprise."
I think you misunderstood all our comments.
We Indians, including the names you have mentioned, did not accuse you of accusing Mossad. Nor did we accuse you of talking about a Mossad conspiracy.
I can say without a doubt, and vouch for all the Indians who commented, our concern was your negligence and carelessness.
We understood perfectly well that you mentioned Mossad-like as in a way.
But our concern was simple. Even if you mention the name Mossad (carelessly or out of neglect or intending to explain), a country like Pakistan which is ever so seeped in conspiracy theories will get a straw to hand on to.
I'm sorry to say, many Pakistanis will misunderstand your article and simply say, "see, we told you!"
Hope you understand our concerns.
Our objection was to your carelessness.
First of all this author should be heartily congratulated and saluted for having the modesty to respond to the comments of the readers. It looks like all other authors don't have the courage or think it is beneath them to respond to the readers.
Second of all this author should be reminded he is a Pakistani author writing in a Pakistani News Paper. Since Pakistan has indulged in so much false propaganda, and has such low credibility in the international community naturally a Pakistani author using the phrase "Mossad-like" will likely be interpreted as a conspiracy theory story.
@Author: Firstly, it is commendable that you read the comments section of your own articles. Secondly, it is indeed laudable that you are still able to write a subsequent article without lashing out.
I say the above because I have seen one here who was unable to handle the heat and had to resort to calling Indians on ET as R&AW agents.
Now coming to Mossad, the Entebbe operation (in which Benjamin Netanyahu's brother was the sole fatality) was a well-planned operation which succeeded in fooling the captors and rescuing all hostages. The TTP operation on Karachi airport? Not so much. It is still unclear what it is that the TTP planned to accomplish. There is also the question of the unused rocket launchers being recovered from the scene.
I belong to the same Indian community farm as the 3 you named. We are not a kibbutz yet because we are lacking a Jew (Need to check on this with solomon2). However we are a motley crew of people from the north, south, east and west of India; some of us are Hindus, Christians, Muslims or atheists. The concern that Indians have with the Mossad reference is because conspiracy theorists run amok in Pakistan. If you google, you can already see articles claiming that R&AW, Mossad and CIA are behind the Karachi airport attack. There is even a Jang article in Urdu on this which I unfortunately cannot read.